Brown Violetear vs Purple-throated Carib
Colibri delphinae compared with Eulampis jugularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brown Violetear | Purple-throated Carib |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Colibri delphinae | Eulampis jugularis |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 13.6 cm (5.4 in) | 14.3 cm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | 6.2 g (0.22 oz) | 9.316666666666666 g (0.33 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore visiting a wide range of forest-edge and garden flowers. Aggressively defends patches of Salvia … | Nectarivore of Caribbean island forests; bill adapted to visit Heliconia and Brugmansia. Takes small arthropods … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Brown Violetear
High, thin twittering barely audible; delicate cascade of minute notes almost imperceptible in dense vegetation.
Purple-throated Carib
Thin, sibilant twittering with airy quality; light high notes cascading softly in relaxed sequence near flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brown Violetear
Found in humid forest from Guatemala south through Central America to western Ecuador and Bolivia, and across northern South America. 0–1,800 m.
Purple-throated Carib
Found throughout the Lesser Antilles from Saba to Grenada. Prefers mature forest and flowering trees. Sea level to 800 m.
Conservation Status
Brown Violetear
Purple-throated Carib
How to Tell Them Apart
Brown Violetear
Long-tailed Sylph: males with spectacularly long violet-streaked iridescent tail; glittering green gorget; females with shorter graduated tail
Purple-throated Carib
Turquoise-throated Puffleg: iridescent violet crown; glittering turquoise gorget; metallic green back; white leg puffs; females duller
About These Birds
Brown Violetear
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) with dull brown plumage, unusual among hummingbirds. Found in humid forests from Guatemala through South America to Bolivia. Named for the violet ear patches visible in good light. Nectarivore of forest canopy and edges. Nomadic.
Purple-throated Carib
A medium-sized hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the Lesser Antilles from Saba to St. Vincent. Males have iridescent purple throat and green body. Nectarivore of montane forest and gardens. Larger and more aggressive than Green-throated Carib, dominating flower territories.